During the night and day of Thursday, new deadly strikes were reported across the Middle East, pushing the price of crude oil to $107 at the start of trading. Hopes for a quick end to the conflict dwindled as U.S. President Donald Trump mentioned “two to three weeks” more attacks on Wednesday night, alongside “ongoing” discussions with Tehran.
“Every day of war worsens human suffering,” noted the UN chief at a press briefing Thursday morning in New York, denouncing the escalation of indiscriminate attacks, targeting civilians, and the destruction of essential infrastructure. He warned that the region is “on the brink of a wider war” with global consequences.
The economic repercussions are being felt beyond the Middle East. Maritime navigation disruptions, especially in the Strait of Hormuz, are leading to higher prices for energy and food supplies, particularly affecting vulnerable populations from the Philippines to Sri Lanka to Mozambique.
Efforts are underway to open a path to peace with diplomatic initiatives supported by international law and the UN Charter. The UN Secretary-General stressed that conflicts do not resolve themselves and that dialogue must be chosen over destruction.
As the UN Secretary-General made this call, the Security Council held a meeting on cooperation between the UN and the Gulf Cooperation Council, a regional organization comprising Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain, the UAE, and Qatar. Another meeting was planned on cooperation with the League of Arab States.
The World Food Programme warned of the risk of a surge in world hunger due to the Middle East crisis, comparing it to the early days of the Ukraine war in 2022. If the crisis continues, an estimated 45 million more people could face acute food insecurity this year.
In Beirut, Lebanon, a solemn ceremony was held at the international airport to honor three peacekeepers from the UN Interim Force in Lebanon who lost their lives in incidents related to hostilities between the pro-Iranian Hezbollah and Israel. The three Indonesian peacekeepers were posthumously awarded medals from the UNIFIL and the Lebanese Armed Forces for their dedication to peacekeeping in southern Lebanon.
The situation remains concerning, with continuous rocket fire towards Israel and airstrikes and artillery fire hitting various locations in southern Lebanon. Even as peacekeepers are endangered by ongoing hostilities, efforts are being made to secure ceasefires and provide necessary medical care to those injured in the conflict.
